Tobacco 21 Minimum Sales Age
Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the United States. Despite years of public health campaigns and policy efforts to reduce tobacco use, millions of Americans still use tobacco products, and too many young people continue smoking each year. That’s why the Tobacco 21 law, which raises the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to 21, is an important step forward to public health in the United States.
The Tobacco 21 law, which went into effect nationwide on December 20, 2019, is a significant milestone in the fight against tobacco use. Raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes, to 21 will help reduce youth access to these products and prevent young people from starting to use tobacco in the first place. Here are a few reasons why the Tobacco 21 law is a good thing for America:
Reducing Youth Tobacco Use: Tobacco use among young people is a major public health problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 9 out 0f 10 cigarette smokers first try smoking by age 18. By raising the minimum sales age for tobacco to 21, the Tobacco 21 law will help prevent young people from starting to use tobacco in the first place, reducing their risk of addiction and disease.
Improving Public Health: Tobacco use is a significant cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. According to the CDC, smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths annually in the United States, and secondhand smoke exposure causes 41,000 deaths. The Tobacco 21 law will help improve public health and reduce healthcare costs associated with smoking-related illnesses by reducing tobacco use.
Encouraging Responsible Decision-Making: Raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to 21 sends a message that tobacco use is not a safe or responsible choice for young people. By encouraging young people to make responsible decisions about their health and well-being, the Tobacco 21 law can help prevent them from starting to use tobacco and reduce the harm associated with tobacco use.
The enforcement of the Minimum Legal Sales Age (MLSA) for tobacco products is critical to reducing youth access to tobacco products and preventing the harmful health effects of tobacco use. MLSA refers to the minimum age at which individuals can purchase or possess tobacco products, which varies across states and countries.
The enforcement of MLSA policies can involve a range of strategies, including:
Compliance checks: Compliance check involve sending underage buyers into stores to attempt to purchase tobacco products. If a retailer sells tobacco products to a minor, they can be fined or have their license suspended or revoked. Compliance checks can be conducted regularly to deter retailers from selling tobacco products to minors.
Penalties and fines: Retailers that violate MLSA policies can face fines or other liabilities, including suspending or revoking their license to sell tobacco products. Increasing the penalties and fines for violating MLSA policies helps deter retailers from selling tobacco products to minors.
Licensing and permitting: States and countries can require retailers to obtain a license or permit to sell tobacco products, subject to annual renewal. Licenses and permits can be helpful tools for regulators to monitor compliance with MLSA policies and enforce penalties for violations.
Education and outreach: Education and outreach campaigns can help raise awareness about MLSA policies and the harmful effects of tobacco use. These campaigns can target retailers and the public, informing them about the penalties for violating MLSA policies and encouraging compliance.
Technology-based solutions: Technology-based solutions, such as age verification software or electronic age verification systems, can be used to verify the age of buyers and prevent underage sales of tobacco products.
Overall, enforcing MLSA policies is critical to reducing youth access to tobacco products and preventing the harmful health effects of tobacco use. A combination of strategies, including compliance checks, penalties and fines, licensing and permitting, education and outreach, and technology-based solutions, can help to ensure that retailers comply with MLSA policies and prevent illegal sales of tobacco products to minors.
